Uncertain future
Adult services for the Havering autistic community face an uncertain future, with the Sycamore Trust Autism Hub in Romford facing closure as a result of the financial crisis facing Havering Council.
Sycamore Trust UK is a charity that supports families and individuals for whom Autism is part of daily life and has operated a support and advice centre for Havering autistic adults in the Liberty Centre since 2015. However, the Autism Hub has been threatened with closure following a decision from the London Borough of Havering to cut services that do not fall under statutory guidelines.
Since opening in October 2015, the Autism Hub has provided support, guidance and respite for the Havering autistic community. It is the location of a huge number of services, including a Peer Group for young adults on the spectrum, an outreach service for hard-to-reach adults in the community and the Autism Steering Group, which feeds into the Council’s Autism Strategy. The most recent version of the Havering Autism Strategy refers to the Autism Hub throughout and was launched from the Hub in April this year. In addition, the Hub includes a Sensory Room, where autistic people can seek shelter if overwhelmed by the sensory experience of the shopping centre, and has provided a valuable service for Havering adults to get help with applications for Personal Independence Payments. More importantly, it has provided a valuable safe space for the Havering autistic community, who are welcomed without question by Hub staff and volunteers.
Following the initial notification of the potential closure, a series of discussions have taken place with Council officials and Leader of the Council Ray Morgon attended a scheduled meeting of the Havering Adult Peer Group. Cllr Morgon met members of the local autistic community and was left in no doubt of the strength of feeling from local people about the impending removal of the service.
Sycamore Trust UK CEO Cheryl Kearney spoke of her concern for those individuals and families that are supported by Hub staff if the service disappears. “We know that the London Borough of Havering are in a difficult financial position, and we are working to find a solution to the problem, which may well involve some changes and adaptations to our current service.
She continued; “we are hugely concerned for the individuals and families that rely on the Autism Hub. For many of them it is a safe space where they can feel welcomed without judgement and we are very concerned that removal of the service would leave a very vulnerable group of people completely unsupported by their local authority.”
In addition to the range of services for Havering’s autistic adults, the Hub has formed relationships with Havering Works, Romford Police and Romford Job Centre. It has supported Autistic adults to exhibit original art in the Mercury Mall and the Liberty’s calm lane directed adults to the Hub in 2019. The Liberty Centre now operates a quiet period every Tuesday morning. The Hub has hosted local VIP’s such as Romford MP Andrew Rosindell and the Mayor of Havering on several occasions.
Council officials have indicated that there are other services in the borough that support autistic adults, but these do not address their needs or provide them with opportunities for support with seeking employment, creating social connections or helping with benefit, housing or legal problems.
Sycamore Trust understands that a final decision is not expected until 7th December and urged concerned residents to contact their councillor and express concerns about the removal of the service.
Contact your local councillor here; https://democracy.havering.gov.uk/mgCommitteeMailingList.aspx?ID=0
There is a petition on change.org that aims to encourage LBH to take another look at this issue. Click here for details; https://chng.it/PNvc6C5fpH Please sign and share!